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Seven plainclothesmen, armed with all-too-visible carbines, make an arc around him as he conducts his aamdarbar on the lawn of his bungalow each morning. He calls himself a "people's man", but is more at ease in the company of MLA's and other powerbrokers of Haryana politics. He says he was an amateur wrestler but exudes an oily charm which seems slippery rather than brawny. Last fortnight India Today Correspondents Sumit Mitra and Prabhu Chawla spoke to this elusive acrobat of Indian politics. Samples:

"People know that Bhajan Lal keeps his word. They know that he respects people, he is not mean, he doesn't insult others. It's not a question of duping or coercing somebody into the party. One has to build up credibility first."

On his apprenticeship in politics: "I can't say what led me into politics. I believe it's my basic love to be in the midst of the people. In 1952 I became member of the panchayat. Later, I became member of the panchayat samiti and the zilla parishad to become, finally, the chairman of the panchayat samiti. The late Sardar Pratap Singh Kairon told me after my election that 'with your votes seven people could have got elected'. In 1967 I wanted a Congress ticket but did not get it. But I helped the Congress candidate anyway. Next year, after the Government had fallen, there was a mid-term poll and I got a ticket. I won, and was given a portfolio by my bade bhai, Chaudhury Bansi Lalji."

On his early association with the politics of defection: "You see, 13 people defected from the Congress in 1968, but I brought back 14. You must know how to talk with people, how to inspire their confidence. People know that Bhajan Lal keeps his word. Minister banayenge to banayenge, chairman banayenge to banayenge. They know that Bhajan Lal respects people, he is not mean, he doesn't insult others. It's not a question of duping or coercing somebody into the party. One has to build up credibility first."

On his defection from the Congress: "It's true that there was some misunderstanding in 1977. But I had never approved of Devi Lal and his ways. During the Janata rule, when Mrs Gandhi came to Haryana, I was the first to welcome her... just like the old days, you know. I was the first person to offer her condolence after she was defeated. When she lost I made a public statement that the country had slid ten years backward. Main tha atma se Congress, sharir se Janata. (My soul was in the Congress, only my body was in the Janata)."

On how defection affects society: "Defection does not cost the society anything. Why do you ask that? Have the people faced any problems? There have been thousands of miles of new roads, thousands of villages have been electrified, the Harijan areas have been improved, the 20-point programme has been implemented. This has happened despite defection. Isn't that so?"

On the immorality of defection: "What's immoral in it? Is it morally justified to keep MLA's imprisoned in somebody's farmhouse and to prevent them from exercising their free will? And, unless there is a law against defection, how does the question of morality arise? If it's legal how can it be immoral? Also, the people who have joined us are mostly Congressmen. The man who has been denied ticket does not necessarily cease to be a Congressman."

On why people return to him: "There can't be any question of bribing them. Sawal nahin paida hota (the question does not arise). They've come back because they love me and they trust me. They know there is no casteism in the Congress. Moreover they're all members of the same Congress family. It is like a family reunion. I'm telling you, there will be a stable government here. At least 50 MLA's will be on our side."

On Rajiv Gandhi: "I haven't done anything without his approval. He is very sober. He is very kabil (capable). He considers every step carefully. He gives very good guidance. Aanewala waqt batayega ek din Rajiv Panditji ka moquabila karenge (the future will prove that Rajiv can match up to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru)."

On himself: "I'm an early riser. I walk on the lawn every morning. Glance at the headlines. Then I open the files - one and a half hours every morning. The brain stays cool then. I still find time to read religious books. I trust in God, very much. Back in my youth I used to freak out on kabaddi and wrestling. Great games. In my youth I took on every wrestler in my weight group whom I knew. I've been maintaining a steady 82 kg. And I'm still wrestling - in a metaphorical sense, of course."

On whether he would defect from the Congress(I): "Are you crazy? I'd never repeat the mistake."

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